I’m 22 days from my departure from my deployment. I thought I needed to give you a small window for what the soldiers go through here and feel here. This is not intended to be comprehensive just a “tip of the iceberg” perspective. I wanted to submit to the bloggers excerpts from a TF Troy Command newsletter (i.e. developed by war fighters for war fighters) that gives a operator’s perspective of life here in Iraq, their thoughts and some ways they use to decompress or lower the accumulated stress. So enjoy and I’ll submit my final entry in about 2 weeks.

Excerpts from the Coalition Joint Task Force Troy Periodical: The Defuse
May-June 2008

Life of Tags
The things we carry with us –ordinary objects of little significance otherwise –become pieces of reverence when we carry them to the moment of death. The iPod in the cargo pocket, the wallet in the back pocket and the sweetheart photo in the breast pocket –these things become the last tangible link to existence. They become relics.

The clothes a person wears at the moment of death catch the last living particles and hold them close between the fibers. That is why the loved one left behind is so conscious to keep from shaking the fabric before placing it neatly folded in a keepsake box. Inside the fabric, there’s a bit of someone they’ve loved and ultimately lost. It’s not an easy sentiment to dismiss. More so than any moment in life, death is the instant in which a person’s identity is most entwined with the fabrics worn and the trinkets carried. Everyone knows the standard military identification tag.

At the Task Force Troy EOD Memorial, as I watched the senior enlisted leadership place the tags of those fifteen individuals on the memorial piece, I couldn’t help notice each of them took when handling the tags. Their movements slowed more than a step. Intent and concentrated, those honored men each made every effort to respect the square pieces of tin that they held in their hands. They showed such great reverence because they knew that they were handling a thing very personal –a link to one of their own whom had full and willingly paid the ultimate price in the name of service and country. They showed such great reverence because hidden beneath every service uniform is a set of tags dangling from the neck so very close to a beating heart.
-by SGT LUKE BALDWIN

Task Force Troy’s Technical Escort Detachment
Troy’s Technical Escort Detachment may be the most highly trained group of individuals in theater today. At least, that’s the first impression they give.

Spend any amount of time with the group and the sentiment won’t fade in the least bit. Comprised of both CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) specialists as well as EOD operators, the Tech Escort Detachment is the ITOs expert at characterization, mitigation, assessment, and elimination of CBRN threats.

“We at Tech Escort provide theater-level support to all combatant commanders for WMD elimination,” explains detachment commander, Captain Joseph Monette. Characterization and analysis of hazardous materials is the focus of the Tech Escort team. When units conducting operations in the combat zone detect or otherwise come into suspicion of an area that might pose a CBRNE threat, the team at Tech Escort is the first response to characterize and assess that threat. Armed with an array of top-line detection equipment and dressed in specialized protective suits and masks, the team works in groups of two as a site-sweep is conducted to locate, mark, and eventually extract any and all hazardous material from the site. Over watch is essential to operating proce-dures. If any one member of the team is exposed or becomes a casualty, there are always team members on close stand-by for casualty extraction and treat-ment.

With the threat assessed and samples extracted, the next step in the high-stakes Tech Escort mission is to evacuate the collected material to a laboratory for final testing and analysis. “Tech Escort is the only highly specialized unit that I know of that combines the CBRNE and EOD assets,” said Task Force Troy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Chadwick Bauld, a chemical officer himself. “Tech Escort is the model for future CBRNE forces.”

One would assume that, with the dangers involved with a job such as neutralization of WMDs, the Soldiers of Tech Escort would be one of the most high-strung group of Soldiers one could encounter. This simply isn’t the case. There’s an air of confidence that surrounds the specialized unit. It’s the kind of confidence that can only be attributed to the thorough and rigorous training each member on the team must undergo and complete to gain the fidelity of a command in charge of defeating potentially the most dangerous weapon in the enemy’s arsenal.

“Last summer we did live agent training in Canada. We also went through a Theater Mission Readiness Exercise in Utah which was set up and facilitated by the nation’s top scientists” said Master Sergeant Samuel Lewis, the Detachment First Sergeant and team member. “Also, as part of our train-up, we completed the Chemical Energetics Course which has been very fruitful in training our EOD techs,” CPT Monette added. The chemical energetics course gives special insight into the laboratory production of Home Made Explosives (HME). “We completed what is called confined space training. That exercise actually took place in an abandoned nuclear power plant in Washington.”

“We also train on a daily basis to sustain and advance our capabilities,” said MSG Lewis. “Crew level sampling, analytical training, confined space training, decon training, convoy training, weapons qualification and Blue Force Tracker training are just a few key pieces of training that we’ve done since we arrived in theater.”

“They have a very detailed training schedule,” said LTC Bauld, “and they challenge each other. They have to challenge each other. Every case that they respond to has the potential to present new dangers. Every scenario could be a different challenge or threat. They have to be able to think on the spot and react.”
In addition to all of the CBRNE focused training, the members of Tech Escort are all trained in close quarters engagements, combatives, and every member is combat lifesaver qualified. The team even has one Soldier, Staff Sergeant Maria Vazquezc, who is a qualified emergency medical technician. To better disseminate the knowledge they have acquired through all of this training, many of the Soldiers of Tech Escort play the dual role of technician and instructor. Fully qualified, they share their training with other Soldiers, especially in the EOD field, on subjects such as confined space operations. “The certification process is continual. The nature of the mission makes recertification a requirement,” CPT Monette added. Undaunted, the Soldiers of Tech Escort continually rise above the shifting dangers of their field of work to provide support to combatant commanders. “The team’s performance has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said LTC Bauld. Given the ever-changing challenges of CBRNE and the unremitting efforts of Chemical and EOD operators to meet those shifting challenges, it seems that there will always be a new face to Tech Escort.
-by SGT LUKE BALDWIN

A Pat on the Back and a Pie in the Face
There are times during long deployments when gratitude for your hard work and dedication can be overlooked. The TF Troy J2 wanted to make sure that his servicemen didn’t have this issue. To highlight the great work of his staff, he created the “J2 Outstanding Performer of the Month” award. The award is open to all enlisted servicemen in multi-serviced section. The awardees are judged on eight stringent criteria: duty performance, knowledge, military bearing, leadership, initiative, attitude, camaraderie, and self improvement. “I wanted to make this something to strive for,” said LtCol Price.

Each month the OICs select a deserving person from their section. The Senior NCOIC make the determination of the winner. The names are then turned over to LtCol Price who presents the award. In addition to the recognition, the prizes for the award are an added bonus. The recipient each month receives a certificate, TF Troy sweatshirt, a J2 coin, a half day off, and special reconigtion by the TF Troy Commander, COL Kevin Lutz. Since March, there have been two recipients. The first performer of the month was Micheal Scmidley from Louisiana. He is an analyst on the MND-B team in J2. “He did great work on some of the major RFIs that came into J2, and he also did a few working aids. He’s an all around great Airman,” said MSgt Bonfigli.

April saw Ssgt Kenneth Rath win the award. SSgt Rath is from Arkansas and is a Arabic Linguist. His specialty in J2 is vehicle borne IEDs. He was recog-nized for his outstanding work with home made explosives. In April, the Airforce House sponsored a Spring Fling. It was an event to promote fun and camaraderie with all of the servicemen on the Camp Victory Complex. The event was filled with food, music and fun. “I enjoyed the band the most. It was excellent,” said Susan Guido. The highlight of the event, however, was the fund-raising Pie-in-the Face contest. Units were able to donate money toward the candidate the wanted to see “pied” the most. Of course, candidate could also offer money to not receive the “prize”. From TF Troy J2, LtCol Price was the candidate of choice. The J2 section raised more than $200 to ensure it happened. When all of the money was counted, and the J2 properly cloaked in plastic to protect his clothing. SPC James Hockenberry was given the honor of presenting the J2 with the pie. “This was definitely a once in a life time opportu-nity. I know I’ll never get this chance again in my career,” said Hockenberry.

TSgt Susan Guido received the honor of smearing Major General David Clary, the Air Force House Commander. “I really had a good time. The General was an excellent sport and I appreciated that. Believe it or not I actually bid on the pie to save the General from getting pied,” she laughed.

My boss, MAJ Patrick Stamm getting “pied” at our Hail and Farewell.

Summer-esque temperatures arrived in March and reached triple-digits in April. The rise in temperature did not, however, deter the service members of Task Force Troy from bringing their own brand of heat to the firing range.

Above: Sergeant Walker taking his best shot & below: Sergeant Hodges excited about getting ready to shoot.

Above: TF Troy war fighter getting up front and personal with a 50-caliber machine gun and Below: MAJ Stamm and myself after time on the range.

// photos by SGT LUKE BALDWIN //

Lessons Learned

Hello from Baghdad. My tour is rapidly coming to a close. It is unbelievable how quickly it is passing. Currently, my deployment is 70% complete. This has been an incredible experience. For those who read this blog entry for its non-DoD acquisition content, I’m sorry. I’ve promised Dr. Curtin that I would give him my perspective on lessons learned relative to rapidly fielding equipment to meet emergent war fighter needs, and that will be my focus for this blog entry. I’ve supported USN operators with respect to DoD acquisition for the past 25 years. I’ve been a member of teams that have introduced equipment to the operator through streamlined acquisition process (i.e. between 12 – 24 months), testing to procure initiatives through OSD (i.e. less than 18 months) and more traditional acquisition initiatives (i.e. over 24 months). Through my experience of the past three months, I have been exposed to a rapidly evolving threat, an extreme operating environment and very innovative operators.

Of course, the evolving and lethal threat accelerates the need to get something out there. When we see US, coalition and friendly host nation “Wounded In Actions” and “Killed In Actions” day after day, all understand the urgency for rapidly getting hardware to the field. One of the themes that consistently receives attention, here in-theater, is using the baseline capability as the means for determining and measuring projected operational value of any proposed solution for the operational need. This is a key enabler that can place equipment into the operators’ hands sooner rather than later. If a program languishes within the bureaucracy, it often times will lose credibility because the fight moves on. Either through the continual flow of new equipment to the theater or through evolving Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TT&P), the value of the proposed solution can be minimized or eliminated. Unlike acquisition and technology initiatives in the “rear”, i.e. CONUS-based support laboratories and commands, a high priority operational need WILL be addressed in some manner. This will occur quickly in-theater, either through employment of COTS systems, a change in TT&P or a diminished threat due to a change in operational conditions. The time from official notification of program initiation to equipment fielding is targeted for less than 12 months. If much more than 12 months transpires, the battlefield could likely take a different form and a different set of rules could apply thereby rendering the resulting equipment of little value.

Taking this general rule into account, and assuming a well-defined operational need has been articulated, the next step is to get prototypes into operators’ hands. Identifying which COTS-based solutions offer the most promise takes an experienced acquisition agent who specializes in that specific war fighting area. This agent will normally be a government laboratory, contractor or acquisition office. The main areas of focus for this COTS selection, other than the “mission specific” Measures of Effectiveness critical to get the job done, (i.e. probabilities of detection, probabilities of false alarm, etc.) are system reliability and availability. Vendors advertised metrics must be validated by independent sources. The suitability of the tool to be used or employed by a war fighter that already has a growing toolbox must be well understood. Thus, equipment that requires unique knowledge, skills and abilities will not be viewed as positives. Training that can teach the critical skills necessary to operate the machine in a short period of time is vital. Also, the ability to repair the subject machine when it breaks is another key attribute that will lead to an effective and efficient assessment of the COTS solution. Weeding out COTS solutions often times requires someone to employ the machine in an operationally reflective scenario. To do this a cadre of operators’ representatives needs to provide a quick assessment of the machine relative to system suitability issues and develop notional Concepts of Operations or the like.

I’ve also had the benefit of working in theater over these past three months with leaders who are here on their second deployment. Selected key individuals were here in late 2003 through 2004. COL. Lutz, who was the first Commander of Task Force Troy in 2005, is back at TF Troy for a second tour. After speaking to these veterans of the C-IED war, it has become more obvious to me that urgent needs today require equipment that has suitability especially in the area of reliability that has been characterized and validated. Today, with the C-IED toolbox being filled with more tools than in 2005, the demands on prototypes to meet validated urgent needs are more stringent than in 2005.

The specific take-aways from my experience here that affect the most change in the fastest timeline possible are:
A) Specific definition of the operational need that has stakeholder consensus;
B) Mature prototype (i.e. well characterized) that is reliable and can be used to generate 1st generation TT&P;
C) A Operational Assessment that focuses on effectiveness and suitability (i.e. reliability, logistic support including training & maintenance, etc.);
D) Follow-on procurement of required inventory of equipment

Prioritization of the operational need considering baseline capability and existing operational risk will define the trade space of “speed to field” versus robustness of capability (i.e. effectiveness and suitability). There are numerous ACAT models that employ the characteristics of the above dialogue, specifically Immediate War fighter Need/Joint Urgent Operational Need, Defense Acquisition Challenge Program, Abbreviated Acquisition Initiatives (DoDINST 5000.2).

I guess I’ll sign off. But before I do, I wanted to highlight the details of another fallen hero who died in support of our country and OIF. Please remember, routinely, just like we all see in the daily editions of USA Today, our soldiers are paying the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy in our everyday life. So in every effort, those engaged in moving technology from the laboratory to the war fighter need to feel a sense of urgency and a sense of personal purpose. Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin R. Bewley was from the little town of Hector, Ark. — but he was among the thousands of enlisted Navy personnel who for a year or two make Whidbey Island their home. Petty Officer Bewley, 27, died while performing one of the more dangerous duties in Iraq. He was part of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, and he died of wounds suffered when a bomb detonated while he was conducting operations in Salah ad Din province, said the Navy.

 

Petty Officer Bewley was a member of EOD Mobile Unit 11, based at the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island. His father, Ron Bewley, of Hector, said, “Let me tell you, man, it’s hard to bury your boy when he gets killed in Iraq. … My son’s name is Kevin Ronald Bewley. He was born April 18, 1980. He was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Russellville, Ark. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces. I’m his daddy.”

Petty Officer Bewley was part of a tight-knit group of EOD members. It’s very much a brotherhood in his unit. The brothers loved to travel together; they made a driving trek to the Arctic Circle. They lived their lives with no regrets. After first joining the National Guard, Petty Officer Bewley joined the Navy in November 2001. He already had served a deployment in Iraq in 2006. “He literally had disarmed hundreds of bombs. Each one he disarmed saved someone’s life”.

 

 

 

EOD Memorial

Hope all is well. I’m dropping a quick line to keep you posted on activities here in Baghdad. The weather over the past week has been very moderate relative to temperatures; basically it’s been in the high 80’s to low 90’s. The dust and sand have been kicking up quite a bit and visibility was limited to about 30 meters a couple of days ago. But I’m not complaining, it beats the heat that will be here soon enough. The tempo in the office has been fairly constant, with supporting active IPT’s, (many working daily with CONUS-based laboratories and commands), documenting emerging operational needs from the field, and getting prototypical equipment into the hands of the operators. Busy, fast paced days are the norm.

Last Monday, I had the privilege of attending the EOD Memorial held at the Al Faw Palace. The remainder of my entry this week will be dedicated to the Memorial. Around this time of year, many current and/or former EOD operators and their families and friends will meet, eat dinner and recognize the sacrifices and courage of past EOD operators who gave their lives in performance of duty to our nation. The most significant physical representation of recognizing these sacrifices is the EOD Memorial at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Memorial was dedicated on 12 June 1970. The design, consisting of four white cenotaphs, one for each branch of service, commemorates those who have fallen. There are currently 215 men and women whose names are on the memorial. They all were graduates of an approved EOD school and gave their lives on active duty as a result of an EOD mission since the declaration of World War II. Seventeen names will be added to the Memorial this year.

I’ve included two pictures that were taken at the Victory Base Camp, EOD Memorial. The first shows a tribute to the “Fallen EOD Technician”. As their names were called, the senior enlisted member of the respective service placed a pair of dog tags on the tribute. Accordingly, 17 pairs of dog tags were hung. The crest in the background is that of Task Force Troy, the Multi-National Coalition Task Force that is responsible for leading and executing the fight against the counter-insurgency Improvised Explosive Device threat. That is the organization I work for and support.

The second tribute was the empty table that represents the place setting for the EOD operator that will not return to his/her family. It very appropriately represents the sacrifices made when an EOD operator is lost. It is not isolated to the loss of that individual but also the loss felt by the family and friends of the war fighter. Behind the empty place setting is a table that has framed biographies and pictures of the 17 EOD operators that will be added to the EOD Memorial.

After the dinner, Major General Rick Lynch was the honored speaker. There were over 400 members in attendance at the Memorial at Al Faw. MG Lynch currently serves as the Commanding General, Multi-National Division-Center in Baghdad and the 3rd Infantry Division. MG Lynch is one of those individuals with a gift for inspirational speaking. His dialogue is focused while displaying a great knowledge of the English language. At the beginning of his talk, he walked straight over to the Tribute to the Fallen EOD Technician. He stood at attention and in a show of respect to all EOD operators, saluted the memory of the Fallen EOD Technician. He turned and spoke for about 15 minutes, but it felt more like 15 seconds. He highlighted three main points during his talk: 1) We are honored to be in the presence of EOD technicians and deeply respect the heroic work they do on a daily basis, 2) Their (i.e. those fallen) sacrifice was worth-while, it made a difference in defending our country at home and abroad and 3) All EOD technicians honor their memory through their continuation of being heroes in executing their daily missions. The M G was very direct in his remarks and it was very apparent that there wasn’t a war fighting community he had more respect for than the Joint Services EOD community.

Accordingly this entry to the blog is dedicated to the 232 names on the EOD Memorial at Eglin, Air Force Base, Florida. The image of the wall is seen below.